EQ3- water insecurity Flashcards
water stress
-when annual supply of water per person falls below 1700m3.
-a countrys water consumptiom exceeds 10% of its freshwater supply
water scarcity
-when annual supply of water per person falls below 1000m3.
-theres an imbalnce between demand + supply
-could be physical or economic
phsyical scarity
-occurs when more than 75% of countrys or regions blue water flows r being used- this currently applies to around 25% of worlds population
economic scarcity
-occurs when development of blue water sources is limited by lack of capital, technonolgy + good governance
virtual water
-the hidden flow of water whne food or other commodities r traded
-eg water used to irrigate crops + grow flowers
water=spatially distrubuted unevenly
-66% of worlds pop live in areas that have access to 25% of world annual rainfall
-conflict can further limit access to water sources
-1 million people die each yr as dont have access to safe drinking water
Demand has risen because of:
Population growth - generally more people = more water needed.
● Growing middle class population as countries develop and industrialise, therefore
increasing lifestyle and domestic demand.
● Economic growth means industrial demand may also increase
However,supply cannot meet demand since:
● Aquifers and deep-water wells are being dug, especially for water-intensive agriculture.
● Water tables (groundwater storage) are dropping as a result.
● Water is being extracted at a faster rate than the soil is able to recharge.
Causes of Water Insecurity
precipitation
varies across different climates: mid-latitude areas generally receive the most rainfall.
Causes of Water Insecurity
topography
is also significant as areas w high relief generally get more precipitation + surface runoff is greater for more inclined planes,
so channel flow tends to be larger + so water can be easily stored by dams and reservoirs.
Causes of Water Insecurity
geology
determines water security or insecurity; permeable rocks can be infiltrated, and water can be easily stored underground.
causes of water insecurity
humans
-reduce supply thru pollution
-industrial activity(mainly countries w slack enviromental laws)+ population pressure (lack of sewage treatment, ‘plastic tide’) r reducing accessibility to clean freshwater
-saltwater encroachment due to overextraction + RSLs is further reducing stores
consequences of water insecurity
-price of clean water has increased+may rise globally in future
-inadequate sanitation- affect 2.4billion ppl= disease+ water borne illness
-water v important in economic productivity, crop yield+manufacturing
-agriculture consumes 67% of all water extractions + industrial water consumption on rise
-Fields + grazing lands r dependent on rainwater + aquaculture (fish farming) has rise as wild fish supplies have diminished
-20% of all extracted water is used in industries and for energy production
economic water scarcity
-associate w/developing countries that lack capital+tech + good gov to exploit adequate supplies of blue water
-eg subsaharan africa+ haiti + laos in south east asia
phsyical water scarcity
determined by climate w/high latitude pressure bands between 23.5+35’ North + south
-also factors above
-number of factors may be significant at local scale (geology) situtauion is not as static, as temperate areas (south africa, north east brazilor california) can be affected by drought related climate change
water price
price of water determined by:
Porridge Does Include Wheat
- physical cost of obtaining supply
- degree of demand for water
- infrastructure
- who supplies water
privatisation
neoliberal view
1970-80s- water should be privatised + ppl should pay for what it costs to capture, treat+provide
-w/privitasation theres a view profit could + should be made
-wb in tandem w imt developed structural adjustment programmes- help developing countries over come debt issues
structual adjustment programmes
-there now suuperseded by poverty reduction papers as for many countries now saps resulted in unaccaptable had little progress w/solutions to debts
reasons for water scarcity
- population growth: grow by 80mill a year
- **agricultural demands: **largest user of water(70%)
-
urbanisation: by 2025 60% of world live in urbvan areas
4.** energy**: developing countries have vast untapped hep resources - climate change: affects rainfall, evapotranspiration rates+water availbility
-
economic growth in emerging economies: water for manufacturing + rising living standards
7. improve living standards: growing middle class, unsustainable water use - industralisation: oecd report predict water demand for manufacturing will increase by 400% from 2000-2050
- pollution
